Platanos Maduros Fritos (Easy Fried Sweet Plantains)

En Español Recipe ↆ Video ↆ

Why we ❤️ it

If you know this dish and are wondering why anyone would need a recipe for plátanos fritos maduros (fried sweet plantains), then this is probably not a recipe you'll need. But think of those people who've never had the pleasure of trying ripe plantains. They need this flavor in their lives, don't you think?

Plátanos maduros fritos is one of our most popular Dominican foods and possibly our favorite side dish, so if you don't need a recipe, fantastic! If you need a recipe, we have your back!

What are fritos maduros?

Fritos maduros is what we call fried sweet plantains (fried ripe plantains). Other names are maduro frito, platano amarillo frito, and platano maduro frito.

This dish is popular in Cuba and Puerto Rico too, where they are known as maduros or maduritos. They are also served in many other parts of Latin America. Spanish Caribbean people certainly do love our maduros, and this is one of our staple foods.

The difference between tostones and sweet plantains is that Tostones (fritos verdes) are twice-fried slices of unripe (greeen) plantains, whereas fritos maduros (sweet plantains) are made with ripe or yellow plantains and fried just once. Tostones and sweet fried plantains compete for our love, both are very popular in our country.

Serving suggestions

Plátanos maduros fritos are served as a side dish to lunch or dinner, another way in which we Dominicans combine sweet and savory flavors. You can serve them with la bandera (our traditional lunch of rice, beans, and meat), or any of our locrios (rice with meat, vegetables, or seafood).

About this recipe

Many of you would think this doesn't require a recipe, and that's probably because you grew up eating fritos maduros. This may not be the case for anyone unfamiliar with our cuisine.

Are you a tostones or a frito maduro person? I look forward to getting your feedback in the comments!

Buen provecho!

More plátano maduro recipes

Don't miss any of our plantain recipes, especially our ripe plantain recipes. They are among our recipes.

Ripe plantains - depending on the stage of ripeness - can be used in fritos maduros, Plátano al caldero (caramelized ripe plantains, a side dish, not a dessert), and Pastelón de Plátano maduro (ripe plantain and ground beef casserole). In desserts, it is used in Mala rabia, which is also made with guava and batata). Also see:

• Yaroa Mixta (Dominican Loaded Fries)
• Ripe Plantain Boats (Canoas) with Eggplants
• Piononos de Plátanos Maduros (Ripe Plantain Rolls)
• Baked Sweet Plantains
• Sopión - Sancocho de Habichuelas (Sweet & Spicy Bean Stew)
• Cheese-Crusted Ripe Plantain Balls
• Ripe Plantain Cups w. Spicy Chicken and Avocado Mayo
• Ripe Plantain Soup with Plantain Chips
• Plantain and Cheese Breakfast Tart

What's plantain?

Plantain, Musa × paradisiaca, along with bananas, are a member of the genus musa. Unlike bananas usually eaten ripe (though we eat green bananas too), plantains are only eaten cooked. Dominicans and most Latin Americans eat plantain in as many plantain dishes and as often as potatoes are eaten in some cultures.

Green plantains are used in savory dishes like Mangú (boil plantains, mash, and serve with Dominican onions and "Los tres golpes" or eggs, Salami frito, and Fried cheese), Tostones (fried green plantains), and Mofongo (garlic-flavored fried green plantain mash with crispy pork skins and broth), Pasteles (green plantain pocket filled with meat and wrapped in plantain leaves)

What are sweet plantains?

Sweet, yellow, or ripe plantains are just plantains that have ripened. Different dishes call for different stages of ripening, for this one in specific, plantains should be very ripe, but not mushy.

Plantains are ripe when the peel is yellow and the flesh softer, it will also have a fruitier smell. Check each recipe for the level of ripeness needed for each specific recipe.